Flush valve lift rod guide



Patented July 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,644,951 a p i j 1 p Q FLUSH VALVE LIFT Ron GUIDE Anthony Rand, Des :Moines, Iowa Application May 17, 1951, Serial No. 226,913

8 Claims. '1

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in an automatic flush guide and more specifically pertains to a guiding attachment adapted for mounting in a toilet flush tank upon the overflow pipe valve to provide an improved guiding action of the flush valve stem and there by enhancing the efliciency of operation of the flush valve. I I

The principal object of this invention is to improve the action of the flush valves of-toilet tanks by providing means for guiding the motion of the flush valve stem and flush valve with respect to the flush valve seat and for limiting the movement of the flush valve from its seat with a view to insuring the proper and eflicient seating of the flush valve upon its seat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flush valve guide in conformity with the preceding object which may be applied to existing conventional flush tanks and their equipment without the necessity for alteration of conventional structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a guide attachment in conformity with the preceding object which may be readily vertically adjusted and supported upon the overflow pipe; and may be readily laterally adjusted with respect to the overflow pipe for the purpose of centering the guide means upon ,the vertical axis of the flush valve seat.

A still further important object ,of the in vention is to provide a guiding device inaccordance with the preceding objects in which a sta- I tionaryguide bracket imparts a positive guiding action rtical ly movable flush valve stem, e bracket is secured to the 'iii'ent therewith and is slidingly and giiidingly mounted uponthe first bracket. I" still further objectof the invention is to provide a guiding device in conformity with the foregoing objects in which the guiding device is provided with a limiting stop for positively limiting action of the flush valve vertically upward from its seat.

And a final important object of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein, is to provide a flush valve guiding device in conformity and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as thefollowing description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustically adjusted upon the overflow pipe, hori-' drawings, wherein:

the guiding device; vt v Figure 3 is a vertical central sectional view,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of a fiush tank, parts being broken away and shown in' section, and showing the manner in which the guide attachmentof this invention is associated with the overflow pipe, the flush valve and its stem and the flush valve seat, alternative positions of the flush valve and the guiding device being indicated in dotted lines therein; I

Figure 2 is an elevational view, taken from the right side of Figure 1, and illustrating certain details of the bracket members forming a part of taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3 3 of Figure 2 and illustrating further featuresof the adjustments of the desection line lllof Figure 1 w Reference is now made more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar partsthroughjout the various views, and where the invention is illustrated as operativel'y associated with aflus'h tank In of any conventional and known design, having the usual flush valve seat l2, the overflow pipe I4 and a flush valve IS with a flush valve stem l8. It is understood that the valve stem I8 is attached to suitable andiconventional operating mechanism, not shown, whereby the flush valve may be lifted from its seat to permit discharge of the flush water within the tank It] through the flush valve l2 in a known manner.

The operation of mechanisms of this type is rendered faulty frequently by virtue of the failure of theiflush valve IB'to properly return to and center itself upon its seat I2, this faulty action resulting in a failure of the valve to fully 'close satisfactorily overcome by the improved valve stem guide attachment forming the subject of this invention, clamping device consisting of the complementary clamping members 20 and 22, hingedly secured to each, other and provided with a fastening bolt 24 for encircling and clamping'ly engaging the overflow pipe l4, whereby the clamp may be verzontally or circumferentially adjusted thereabout, and securely locked in the adjusted position. The member 22 is provided with a laterally extending boss 26 having a socket 28 therein, see

Figure 3. This socket slidably receives a laterally projecting rod or arm 30 to the outer end of This attachment includes a aperture 38 therein. The flange 36 is connected to the vertical portion of the bracket 32 by a narrowed neck portion 40, the opposite sides'of which constitute guide surfaces for a purpose which will be subsequently set forth.

The aperture 38 of the flange 36 is adapted to slidably receive the valve stem l8 for-guiding the same during vertical travel of the valve stem.

Mounted upon the bracket 32 for guided sliding movement thereon is a lower bracket member 42. This latter bracket is provided with a laterally extending flange 44 which is adapted to underlie the upper flange 36, and likewise-has an aperture 46 therein for receiving thevalve stem l8.

Opposite the flange 44, or upon what-may be termed the rear surface of the same, the bracket 42 is provided with a laterallyextending lug 48 which constitutes a stop member, and which is adapted to abut the bottom edge of the bracket 32 in the fully raised position of the lower bracket. This lug limits upward movement of the lower bracket.

As shown more clearlyin Figure 2, the lower bracket is provided with a medially disposed elongated vertical slot 50, the top portion of this slot being closed by the horizontally extending end portion 52 of the lower bracket. This top portion 52 constitutesastopwhich upon engagement with the upper surface of the upper bracket 36 limits downward movement of the lower bracket with respect to the supporting upper bracket. The walls of the slot 50 embrace the guide surfaces of the neck portion 46 oi-the upper bracket, this neck portion thus constituting guiding slots or notches on the opposite sides of the upper bracket which permitsfvertical sliding movement of the lower bracket but prevents relative lateral movement of the-two brackets.

A further guide is provided for the bracket assembly which may conveniently comprise a conventional bolt or rivet -54 which extends through the slot 50 and is fixedly secured to the lower portion of the upper bracket 32 as. shown clearly in Figure 3. The'arrangement is such that the member 54 serves to retain the two brackets in close contact with each other, but permits vertical sliding movement. Thus, the member 5i and the neck portion 40 of the upper bracket constitute guides for the verticallysliding 1 lower bracket.

It is preferred to fixedly secure the flange 44 of the lower bracket to the valve stem l8 in any desired manner so that the lower bracket moves vertically with the valve stem as a part thereof. Thus, the valve stem is guided by its engagement with the aperture 38 of the fixed upper bracket,

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what claimed as new is:

l. Aflushval-ve guide comprising upper and lower brackets, alaste-ner securing said brackets together for relative vertical sliding movement, apertured portions on each bracket for receiving the stem of a fiush valve, a support attached to one of said brackets for mounting the same within a flush. tank in fixed relation to a flush valve seat, one bracket being fixedly secured to a. flush valve stem for-movement therewith, the apertured portionoi theother bracket guidingly and slidingly receiving a flush valve stem.

2 The combination of claim 1 wherein one of said brackets has astop member engageable with a portion. ofthe other bracket for limiting relative vertical. movement therebetween.

3. The combination. of claim ,1 wherein one of said brackets has a longitudinal slot, said fastener beingv onthe other bracket and extending through said slot. v

4. .Thecoinbination of claim 1 wherein one of said brackets has a. longitudinal slot, said fastener being on the other bracket. and extending through saidslot the apertured portion of the other bracket having a guidesurfacc received through said s1ot..

, 5. A flush valve guide for flush tanks of the type having an overflow pipe, a flushvalve seat and afiush valve with a stem, comprising; a clamp adapted,forladiustablemounting on said overflow pipe, a first bracket supported by said clamp, a second bracket mounted on and vertically slidable. uponsaid ,first bracket, means the stem of a fioat'valve during yeifl ca 11love and by the sliding engagement of the lower bracket with the upper bracket as above mentioned. I

The device thus limits vertical movement of the valve Ii; from its seat-andv positively confines this movement of the valve to movement axially of the valve seat. r

5 ,1 1 first;

ment thereof, the second An gcket b attached to the stemio je igiig'jtg rt a .Y .A 0 cooperating vertical ga [115p l J brackets. f,

6. The combination ofclaim 5 includingia s 615 on the second bracket adapted for abutting engagement with the other bracket to limit movement of the valve stem.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein the apertured portion of the first bracket includes a laterally extending guide portion, the second bracket having a .slot whose longitudinal side edges slidably embrace said guide portion.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the fastener extends through said slot for guiding the relative movement of the brackets.

AN'IHONY RAN D.

' -Reerences Cited-in the file of this patent FINITED STATES PATENTS McWilliams Mar. 27, 1951 

